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4th Congressional District candidates to attend Tea Party Q&A session July 22 in Williams Township

John R. Moolenaar, R-Midland

State Sen. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, left, and Roscommon businessman Peter Konetchy, right, are both Republican candidates for Michigan's 4th Congressional District expected to attend a public meeting with a Tea Party group in the Bay Area on Tuesday, July 22.

WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP, MI — Congressional candidates in Michigan's 4th District have been invited by a local Tea Party group to take part in a public meeting just weeks in advance of the Aug. 5 primary.

We the People of Mid-Michigan, described by one member as a Tea Party organization, has sent an invitation to a "Meet the Candidate Night" to all four candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan's 4th District. Scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, at Williams Township Hall, 1080 W. Midland Road in Auburn, the event is free to the public, though donations for We the People are encouraged.

Brian Horton, a member of the steering committee for We the People, said organizers currently expect state Sen. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, and Roscommon businessman Peter Konetchy, also a Republican, to attend the event. Horton said that the group has not yet confirmed attendance from Republican candidate and Saginaw County businessman Paul Mitchell or from Democrat Jeff Holmes.

George Blichar, press secretary with Mitchell's campaign, said he couldn't confirm attendance at this time.

"It's a little nebulous at this point," he said.

Horton added that the event isn't a debate, and that candidates won't be allotted time to respond to one another during questions. Instead, a moderator will ask candidates 12 questions out of a pre-distributed list of 20. Those topics, he said, range from the basics, like why candidates are running and other questions about the district, to their views on the Affordable Care Act and addressing the national debt.

"We're just looking for them to answer the questions," Horton said. "At the end, they have a minute and a half for a closing statement or something they'd like to speak about." At that time, he said, audience members might see candidates mention the competition.

Horton said the event is expected to run until approximately 8 p.m.

— Sam Easter is a general assignment reporter for The Bay City Times. He can be reached at seaster@mlive.com.